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Mark 15:29
ESV And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads and saying, "Aha! You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days,
NIV Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, "So! You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days,
NASB Those passing by were hurling abuse at Him, shaking their heads and saying, 'Ha! You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days,
CSB Those who passed by were yelling insults at him, shaking their heads, and saying, "Ha! The one who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days,
NLT The people passing by shouted abuse, shaking their heads in mockery. 'Ha! Look at you now!' they yelled at him. 'You said you were going to destroy the Temple and rebuild it in three days.
KJV And they that passed by railed on him, wagging their heads, and saying, Ah, thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days,
NKJV And those who passed by blasphemed Him, wagging their heads and saying, “Aha! You who destroy the temple and build it in three days,

What does Mark 15:29 mean?

Crucifixions typically take place by a busy road to increase the victim's humiliation and the warning it serves to on-lookers. "Derided" is from the Greek root word blasphemeo. Literally, it means to speak reproachfully or speak evil of. To blaspheme God is a crime punishable by death in the Mosaic law (Leviticus 24:10–16), and this is the crime the high priest accuses Jesus of (Mark 14:64). To wag one's head is another display of derision (2 Kings 19:21; Job 16:4; Psalm 22:7; 109:25).

The story of this theoretical destroyed temple has finally come to fruition. At some point in Jesus' ministry, when He was visiting the temple during a different Passover season, He took a whip and cleared out the venders and money-changers who clogged the Court of the Gentiles (John 2:13–22). This appears to be early on in Jesus' ministry, long before His similar behavior a week prior to the crucifixion (Mark 11:15–19). When the Jewish leadership confronted Jesus, asking who gave Him the authority to clear the temple, He answered, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up" (John 2:19).

The night before the crucifixion, as Jesus is on trial before the Sanhedrin, the accusers twist His words, claiming that He said, "I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and in three days I will build another, not made with hands" (Mark 14:58). It is a crime under the Roman law, punishable by death, to destroy a religious building. The Sanhedrin could have accused Jesus of this threat to Pilate, but they can't find reliable witnesses. Mark 15:29 demonstrates the religious leaders understood Jesus meant His body, not the literal temple. The disciples apparently don't understand until after the resurrection in three days (John 2:21–22; Luke 24:45–46).
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